Lowcountry

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. –  In 2018, Palmetto Community Care tested almost 1,700 people for HIV, recording 23 new HIV-positive cases. That number was up from 20 new HIV-positive cases in 2017.

Last year, Palmetto Community Care – which rebranded from Lowcountry AIDS Services – increased its prevention and education services. The nonprofit has expanded its focus on testing, outreach and HIV prevention education to rural areas of Dorchester and Berkeley counties as well as targeted high-risk communities in Charleston County.

Overall in 2018, more than 90 percent of those tested positive for HIV identified as men who have sex with men; 75 percent were under the age of 30; and 56 percent for African American.

In 2018, Palmetto Community Care also added a mobile testing van thanks to a grant from the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The prevention team has taken the van to nightclubs, community centers, health fairs, special events and more. In the roughly six months the van was on the road last year, the Palmetto Community Care team administered 346 tests.

In addition to providing free, confidential HIV testing, Palmetto Community Care tests for other sexually-transmitted infections.

2018 STI Statistics:

• 1,622 chlamydia and gonorrhea tests – an increase of 256 tests over 2017
• 72 individuals tested positive for chlamydia (an increase from 41 positive tests in 2017)
• 24 individuals tested positive for gonorrhea (an increase from 15 positive tests in 2017)
• 17 individuals tested for syphilis (a decrease from 33 positive tests in 2017)

“There is only one way to know whether you are HIV-positive and that is to get tested and know your status. So, seeing more people get tested in 2018 means our education and outreach efforts are working,” said Adam Weaver, prevention program manager. “Yet it also shows that HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections are still a very real problem in our community. In 2019, we will continue our work to educate the community about safer sex practices and the importance of getting tested.”

In 2018, Palmetto Community Care also launched a PrEP program to help combat rising rates of HIV in the greater Charleston community. PrEP is a once daily pill (brand name Truvada) that is up to 99 percent effective in reducing HIV rates for those who take the medication as prescribed. Palmetto Community Care’s goal is to make this program and medication free or low cost for participants. The program started in September and, by the end of the year, 27 people were enrolled.

Ideal candidates include individuals who are sexually active, have multiple sexual partners, have sexual partners of unknown HIV status and individuals who are 18 years of age or older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two-thirds of people who could potentially benefit from PrEP are African American or Latino.

An estimated 1.1 million people in the United States were living with HIV at the end of 2015. Of those people, about 15 percent, or one in seven, did not know they were infected. In the Lowcountry Public Health Region, the latest data as of  the end of 2016 indicates that at least 4,606 people are living with HIV/AIDS.

Palmetto Community Care offers free, confidential testing for HIV as well as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis at its office located at 3547 Meeting Street Road in North Charleston. Testing hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. No appointment needed. Free condoms are also available.

About Palmetto Community Care | Complete compassionate HIV care + prevention
Palmetto Community Care has been helping those living with HIV for more than 25 years. It all started with a belief that no one living with HIV or AIDS should go without medical care, everyday resources or emotional support. We believe our continued commitment to our work here in the Lowcountry will help bring an end to the HIV epidemic through increased HIV testing, prevention and education. Free, confidential HIV/STI testing: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. No appointment needed. For more information, visit palmettocommunitycare.org.

###
Palmetto Community Care – Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PalmettoCare
Instagram/Twitter: @palmettocare
YouTube: Palmetto Community Care

Two Charleston area restaurants made the 2019 Most Romantic Restaurants in the United States list: #82 Circa 1886 Restaurant and #85 Magnolia’s. Congratulations to these two fine culinary establishments for keeping romance alive in this jewel of the South.

To make its list, Yelp said it identified restaurants that had a “large number of reviews” that included the words “romantic”, “Valentine’s Day,” and “date night.” From there, the company looked at the total number of reviews and ratings to determine how high a restaurant ranked. Also, the list was limited to two restaurants per city.

Complete List

1. Penumbra – Chicago, IL
2. Cafe Monarch – Scottsdale, AZ
3. Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf – Chicago, IL
4. The Blind Rabbit – Anaheim, CA
5. Barrique – Venice, CA
6. The Black Pearl – Dunedin, FL
7. Canoe – Atlanta, GA
8. Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery – Boulder, CO
9. Pane & Vino – Miami Beach, FL
10. Kenny’s Wood Fired Grill – Dallas, TX
11. Gary Danko – San Francisco, CA
12. Sotto – Cincinnati, OH
13. Collage Restaurant – Saint Augustine, FL
14. Boucherie West Village – New York, NY
15. Bistrot La Minette – Philadelphia, PA
16. Kokkari Estiatorio – San Francisco, CA
17. Dametra Cafe – Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA
18. Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar – Miami, FL
19. Cibo – Phoenix, AZ
20. Scusca Italian Ristorante – South Lake Tahoe, CA
21. Pomodoro – Boston, MA
22. Per Se – New York, NY
23. La Mer – Honolulu, HI
24. Talula’s Garden – Philadelphia, PA
25. Mama’s Fish House – Paia, HI
26. Bella On Houston – San Antonio, TX
27. St Martin’s Wine Bistro – Dallas, TX
28. The Cuban Restaurant and Bar – Hoboken, NJ
29. Gracie’s – Providence, RI
30. Hukilau Lanai – Kapaa, HI
31. Cafe Amelie – New Orleans, LA
32. Montalcino Ristorante Italiano – Issaquah, WA
33. French Alpine Bistro – La Creperie Du Village – Aspen, CO
34. Flight Restaurant & Wine Bar – Memphis, TN
35. Sixty Vines – Plano, TX
36. Bern’s Steak House – Tampa, FL
37. The Pink Door – Seattle, WA
38. Bocado Tapas Wine Bar – Worcester, MA
39. 5th & Taylor – Nashville, TN
40. Fratellino – Coral Gables, FL
41. Seito Sushi – Orlando, FL
42. Cafe Matisse – Rutherford, NJ
43. Orsay – Jacksonville, FL
44. Colorado Fondue Company – Casselberry, FL
45. Oporto Fooding House & Wine – Houston, TX
46. Root Down – Denver, CO
47. Marcel – Atlanta, GA
48. Pappas Bros Steakhouse – Houston, TX
49. Bliss – San Antonio, TX
50. The Mill House – Waipaku, HI
51. Salty Sow – Austin, TX
52. Grampa’s Pizzeria – Madison, WI
53. Odyssey Italian Restaurant – Denver, CO
54. Elizabeth on 37th Street – Savannah, GA
55. Los Andes Restaurant – Providence, RI
56. Broders’ Pasta Bar – Minneapolis, MN
57. Irene’s – New Orleans, LA
58. Second Empire Restaurant And Tavern – Raleigh, NC
59. Eiffel Tower – Las Vegas, NV
60. Blue Duck Tavern – Washington D.C.
61. 21 Great American Bistro – Fairfax, VA
62. a Cena Ristorante – Portland, OR
63. Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse – Las Vegas, NV
64. Paseo Grill – Oklahoma City, OK
65. Bida Manda – Raleigh, NC
66. Amore Ristorante Italiano – Birmingham, AL
67. Tidepools – Poipu, HI
68. Cheever’s Cafe – Oklahoma City, OK
69. Soul Gastrolounge – Charlotte, NC
70. Le Diplomate – Washington D.C.
71. The Rabbit Hole – Colorado Springs, CO
72. Ciro’s – Tampa, FL
73. Toro Bravo – Portland, OR
74. Eleven Eleven – Saint Louis, MO
75. Le Patio – Wilton Manors, FL
76. Kaluz Restaurant – Fort Lauderdale, FL
77. Street & Co. – Portland, ME
78. Good Food on Montford – Charlotte, NC
79. Antiquity Restaurant – Albuquerque, NM
80. The Rotten Bunch – Austin, TX
81. Cafe Lurcat – Minneapolis, MN
82. Circa 1886 Restaurant – Charleston, SC
83. I Fratellini – Clayton, MO
84. Dolce – Omaha, NE
85. Magnolias – Charleston, SC
86. Social – Fort Collins, CO
87. Mama Carolla’s – Indianapolis, IN
88. The Love Apple – Taos, NM
89. Royal Taj – Columbia, MD
90. Stanford Grill – Columbia, MD
91. L’Albatros – Cleveland, OH
92. Basi Italia – Columbus, OH
93. Green Valley Grill – Greensboro, NC
94. Victoria & Albert’s – Orlando, FL
95. L’Auberge Chez Francois – Great Falls, VA
96. Mamma Luisa Italian Restaurant – Newport, RI
97. Azure Restaurant – Honolulu, HI
98. CUCINA urbana – San Diego, CA
99. The Secret Garden Cafe – Occoquan, VA
100. Dada – Delray, FL

CHARLESTON, S.C. – William Means Real Estate agent, Lyles Geer was recently honored with a 2018 Carolopolis Award from the Preservation Society of Charleston for his extensive work in preserving and protecting the historic heritage of his house in Hampton Park Terrace. 

Built in 1922, the two-and-one-half-story house at 153 Moultrie Street is a variant of a typical, early twentieth century Hampton Park Terrace house type referred to as “Lateral-gable.” Recalling Prairie style architecture with its wide overhanging eaves, and large square porch supports, 153 Moultrie Street was built by F.J.H. Haesloop who is credited with constructing more than a dozen houses in the neighborhood in the 1910s and 1920s.

While outside of the BAR’s purview, Geer chose to renovate within the framework established by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, earning the State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit. The scope of work included the removal of a non-historic rear addition and metal fire stair, restoration of original openings, reopening of a glass porch enclosure, and repairs of exterior masonry and cast stone detail.

“All of the Carolopolis winners had their own incredible transformation stories and I felt so honored to be included among the 10 recipients this year. My wife, Katie and I have already determined where we plan to place our new plaque,” said Geer.

At its core, the Carolopolis Award seeks to promote excellence in historic preservation. After 63 years and more than 1,400 awards given, it has become as much a part of the fabric of the city as the buildings and structures it honors. Today, Charleston is a much different city than the one of 1953 when the Preservation Society awarded its first Carolopolis. The demands of preservation in Charleston have expanded, and with it, so too has the Carolopolis Award program.

About William Means Real Estate

Founded in 1933, William Means Real Estate is one of Charleston’s oldest real estate companies and an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate. Established in 1995, Christie’s International Real Estate is the world’s leading expert on high-end real estate with a network of 1,000 offices in 50 countries worldwide. Helen Lyles Geer has been president and broker-in-charge of William Means since 1999. Since then, the firm has continued to evolve with the latest innovations to remain at the forefront of the area’s real estate market. William Means Real Estate has an office on Broad Street in downtown Charleston and another in Mount Pleasant to assist clients in the East Cooper area. For more information, visit charlestonrealestate.com.

“A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life.”
-James Allen

We all have a journey.

Some have a bucket list, some a mission and others are just content being ignorant assholes that are so narrow-minded by prejudice and stereotype that they contribute to the hatred in our society.

Throughout this journey of life, we will all get lost. Each day is a path of twists and turns, corners of darkness and visions of light. If a day did not go by where we thought for a brief moment, an end would simply and shorten the madness we love and hate so much we would not be human. In the end, the journey is about something. It is a quest for moral right and a rendezvous with destiny.

It all works out though.

Some have a short journey while others are long and full of evolutionary change.

Life is never about you!

We all find what we are looking for and in the end, it is never about us. Think about it. Is it about your daughter who looks at you each morning with her baby blue eyes and smiles at the sight of your morning glow? Is it your partner for life who you sacrificed your soul to spend every breathing day of your life with? Is in your mother and father who led by example and shaped you into the person you are? Is it the refugee camp that is suffering from death and disease that you have dedicated yourself to saving? Is it your true love who soul was brought to you in an act of fate? Is it the music and lyrics that touch millions of lives and turn a lost soul away from the bridge to live one more day?

We are here with purpose.
We are given the gift of breath.

What fascinates my mental being is how some of us choose to get lost in the sea of uncertainty. All too often we guess and second guess our own purpose in life without accepting that we are fulfilling it through our passions, our actions, our unselfish hand and ultimately the lives we help bring meaning to.

We are all granted the ability to be angels on earth with a chance to hold out our hand and offer shelter to those in need.

I love that we all have gifts and talents. Some is through song, some strength, some compassion but at the end of the day, the gifts we use are not for us, not for self-fulfillment or any personal pleasure. They are for the stranger in the street, the homeless child, the girl with the broken heart, the sick friend.

Find your purpose and share it.

It’s all about love

How amazing is a life where we have this much power to help others. No matter what our talent, no matter what we say or do it is all guided by one common force that brings us all together; love.

Love is and will always be the answer to life’s unanswered questions. No matter which direction we go, love is all around us.

How can you not wake up each morning and smile with that thought dancing in your head.

I know I can’t.

Never forget: It’s never about you, Live with purpose and remember it is all about love!!!!

By Mark A. Leon

The poignancy of life is a profound and delicate flower
It blossoms so infrequently in the most ideal conditions
With a sprinkle of love
A dash to compassion
A flurry of honesty
A nurturing of sunlight

It is born inside all of us
Nestled in its womb

A heartbeat away from exploding on a journey through the universe

First stop, purpose
It’s a confusing place
So many wandering, looking, not sure what it is they seek

This stop is crowded
Not for the weak or timid
It is honored in is irreverence for goodness
All creatures unite

Next stop, knowledge
Knowledge is offered with a price
Some will tease it with gold and jewels
Others offer a quiet place on the hill void of pressure

This stop is filled with all the scents of Mother Earth
From here, one direction turns to many.
Some seek explanation, others continue on

Next stop, understanding
It all serves a better good

This means could end
We have become the protectors
Now nurtured, we are free to see our place

The stops become fewer
Distances longer
Weariness sets in

Next stop, Reflection one mile
Slow, ease in and step into the house of mirrors
No directions
No depth
Only self-awareness

Each line on your face, a story
All those you have left behind smile behind you

Drawn in, you don’t want to leave
There is comfort in these memories
A fragile stability to all of this

Time has another plan
We must move on